CN1165784C - Article exhibiting dry and wet retroreflectivity - Google Patents

Article exhibiting dry and wet retroreflectivity Download PDF

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Publication number
CN1165784C
CN1165784C CNB008143269A CN00814326A CN1165784C CN 1165784 C CN1165784 C CN 1165784C CN B008143269 A CNB008143269 A CN B008143269A CN 00814326 A CN00814326 A CN 00814326A CN 1165784 C CN1165784 C CN 1165784C
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optical element
wall
goods
lens optics
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CN1379862A (en
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Gm
G·M·布塞拉托
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T·P·赫德布洛姆
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J·L·范登堡
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3M Innovative Properties Co
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3M Innovative Properties Co
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
    • G02B5/12—Reflex reflectors
    • G02B5/126—Reflex reflectors including curved refracting surface
    • G02B5/128—Reflex reflectors including curved refracting surface transparent spheres being embedded in matrix
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
    • E01F9/00—Arrangement of road signs or traffic signals; Arrangements for enforcing caution
    • E01F9/40—Arrangements responsive to adverse atmospheric conditions, e.g. to signal icy roads or to automatically illuminate in fog; Arrangements characterised by heating or drying means
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
    • E01F9/00—Arrangement of road signs or traffic signals; Arrangements for enforcing caution
    • E01F9/50—Road surface markings; Kerbs or road edgings, specially adapted for alerting road users
    • E01F9/506—Road surface markings; Kerbs or road edgings, specially adapted for alerting road users characterised by the road surface marking material, e.g. comprising additives for improving friction or reflectivity; Methods of forming, installing or applying markings in, on or to road surfaces
    • E01F9/524—Reflecting elements specially adapted for incorporation in or application to road surface markings

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Atmospheric Sciences (AREA)
  • Optical Elements Other Than Lenses (AREA)
  • Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)

Abstract

An exposed-lens retroreflective article (10) exhibiting retroreflection under dry and wet conditions is provided. The inventive article comprises a first set of optical elements (12) having a first reflective layer (14) disposed on the embedded portion of the elements. The first set contributes mainly to dry retroreflection. The article further comprises a second set of optical elements (22) having a second reflective layer (24) behind a spacing layer (26). The second set contributes mainly to wet retroreflection. In one embodiment, the first and second sets of optical elements have substantially the same average diameters, refractive index, and density.

Description

Goods with dried and wet retroreflectiveness
Technical field
The present invention relates under dry and wet condition, present the counter-reflective products of retrodirective reflection light.Specifically, the present invention relates to be used in combination the pavement markers of optical element, the retroreflectiveness when first group of optical element mainly provides drying, the retroreflectiveness when second group of optical element mainly provides humidity.
Background technology
Counter-reflective products can be with a large amount of incident lights towards light source direction retroeflection (otherwise these light will reflex to other direction).This performance is widely used in and traffic and the security-related various uses of life counter-reflective products.For example, in the traffic safety field, used counter-reflective products (as pavement markers) to help the guiding driver.
Many planes pavement markers often depend on the retrodirective reflection optics system of exposing lens, and it comprises the printing opacity microballoon that is partially submerged into adhesive phase, and described adhesive phase contains the reflective pigment particle (as titania TiO 2Or plumbous chromate PbCrO 4).The part microballoon that does not embed bonding agent is exposed in the air usually.The light that using time motor-car headlight sends enters microballoon, and towards reflective paint refraction, the light that part is reflected by pigment is roughly along the incident direction retroeflection of light.The retrodirective reflection performance of exposing the flat pavement markers of lens when microballoon is moist known in the art descends.Because when covering when the optical element humidity or by water (as rainwater), the ratio that element exposes the refractive index of lens surface changes, thereby influences the ability that element is gathered incident light, therefore causes the decline of retrodirective reflection performance.So those of ordinary skill in the art has adopted distinct methods to make goods present the retrodirective reflection performance under dry and wet condition.
The patterned pavement markers of United States Patent (USP) 4,988,555 described uses of a kind of method such as Hedblom.In another approach, the United States Patent (USP) 5,777,791 of Hedblom is described by being used in combination the microballoon with different refractivity and is made the patterned lens pavement markers that expose present retroreflectiveness under dry and wet condition.The about 1.9-2.0 of the refractive index of first kind of microballoon is used for providing retroreflectiveness (being called dried retroreflectiveness) under drying condition, the about 2.2-2.3 of the refractive index of second kind of microballoon is used for providing retroreflectiveness (being called wet retroreflectiveness) under wet condition.Other those of ordinary skill of this area also the microballoon by being used in combination different refractivity to obtain wet and dried retroreflectiveness.Referring to United States Patent (USP) 3,043,196 (Palmquist), 5,207,852 (Lightle etc.), 5,316,838 (Crandall etc.) and 5,417,515 (Hachey etc.).
The not U.S. Patent application 09/175,523 of authorization that the assignee submitted on October 20th, 1998 discloses a kind of pavement marking article that has the retroreflectiveness of enhancing under wet condition.Described pavement markers have with an individual layer that embeds the surface and expose lens optics thereto, have the wall of two first type surfaces, its first first type surface contact with the embedding surface of optical element and on wall second first type surface a reflection horizon.Its relevant application is the U.S. Patent application of submitting on October 20th, 1,998 09/175,857, and it discloses a kind of method of making reflective elements.
The United States Patent (USP) 2,354,018 of Heltzer etc. disclose a kind of be used to make traffic signals or mark expose the lens light reflector plate.In an example, this reflector plate comprises the clear glass ball in the microballoon bonding coat that is partially submerged into band pigment and the last glued membrane of band pigment, and glued membrane is positioned at the next door of glass bead major part embedded part and contacts with microsphere adhesive on this.In another example, described reflector plate comprises the glass bead that is partially submerged in the microsphere adhesive coating, to be positioned at the most of embedded part of glass bead other and with the contacted transparent spacers of microsphere adhesive and be positioned at the other reflection of wall (band pigment or aluminium foil) and go up gel coating.As shown in Figure 3, described wall is the smooth layer of one deck substantially.When being very useful from the incident light of automobile headlamp these goods with the vertical substantially direction incident in this reflector plate surface the time.But these goods can not play a role when incident light enters these goods with big incident angle, because wall does not center on the embedded part of glass bead.
The United States Patent (USP) 5,812,317 of Billingsley etc. disclose a kind of present improved washing resistance expose the lens counter-reflective products, it is used for clothing as the reflection fabric in a kind of purposes.These goods comprise one deck microballoon, one deck light penetrating copolymer middle layer, layer of metal reflection horizon and one layer of polymeric adhesive layer successively.Between microballoon and reflection horizon, place one deck middle layer and obtained the washing resistance that strengthens, according to the mensuration of ASTM E 810-93b, under drying condition, the optical property of counter-reflective products is not produced the influence (referring to the 3rd hurdle 11-16 capable and the 8th hurdle 18-19 is capable) of significant adverse.Described middle layer is preferably continuous, but can be in some very little zones most of embedded part of microballoon (especially) middle layer can be discontinuous, promptly its thickness is 0 or approaches 0 (referring to the 4th hurdle the 64th row).
GB-A-2 255 312 relates to a kind of retrodirective reflection assembly, and it comprises the glass bead that one deck is partially metallised and/or embeds substrate or the metallic reflection goods in on-chip adhesive phase.Position at no metallized glass ball connects the translucent overlayer of one deck by high-frequency welding on substrate or adhesive phase.What therefore, this patented claim was described is a kind of retrodirective reflection assembly that is called the encapsulated-lens goods.
GB-A-1 036 392 describes a kind of reflective light reverberator, and it comprises that one deck is partially submerged into the trickle glass bead in the adhesive material of being with reflective paint.This layer glass bead comprises the potpourri of the transparent beads of transparent beads and band reflectance coating.The reflectance coating of transparent beads on its exposing surface of band reflectance coating is removed.
Although prior art is very suitable in application facet, still need a kind of counter-reflective products that presents dry and moist retroreflectiveness, especially expose the pavement markers of lens.
The content of invention
The invention provides a kind of new and improved counter-reflective products, be adapted at carrying out retrodirective reflection under dry and the wet condition.Different with known counter-reflective products, the invention provides a kind of lens optics thereto of exposing of combination, the position in its reflection horizon makes these goods present and does and wet retroreflectiveness.
Put it briefly, described counter-reflective products (for example pavement markers) comprises or mainly is made up of following assembly:
(a) one deck optical element, it comprises:
(i) first group has exposing lens optics thereto and being positioned at first reflection horizon on the described embedded part of embedded part;
(ii) second group of lens optics thereto of exposing with embedded part;
(b) have the printing opacity wall on first and second surfaces, described first surface is adjacent with described first and second groups of embedded parts that expose lens optics thereto; With
(c) be positioned at second reflection horizon on the described wall second surface.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a kind of pavement markers, and it comprises:
(a) adhesive phase;
(b) place the projection of the many non-integrals on the adhesive phase; With
(c) place counter-reflective products of the present invention on the described projection.
Further aspect of the present invention relates to a kind of reflective elements, and it comprises:
(a) sandwich layer;
(b) place counter-reflective products of the present invention on the sandwich layer, make sandwich layer near second reflection horizon.
Further aspect of the present invention relates to a kind of pavement markers, and it comprises:
(a) adhesive phase;
(b) place reflective elements of the present invention on the adhesive phase.
The preparation method who relates in one aspect to a kind of pavement markers more of the present invention, it comprises the following steps:
(a) provide first group of optical element, it has first reflection horizon on its whole surface of basic covering;
(b) provide second group of optical element;
(c) provide the printing opacity wall, it has first surface and second surface;
(d) first group of optical element and second group of optical element are applied on the first surface of wall;
(e) make first group of optical element and second group of optical element be partially submerged into wall, make optical element have exposed portions serve and embedded part;
(f) remove part first reflection horizon from the exposed portions serve of first group of optical element; With
(g) on the wall second surface, apply second reflection horizon.
An advantage of the present invention be goods of the present invention can be under wet condition (for example rainy day) and drying condition the reverse light of penetrating that is reflected into.Select the refractive index of first group of optical element, thereby when the embedded part (being commonly referred to " back side ") of optical element almost was close in first reflection horizon, this first group of optical element mainly provided dried retroreflectiveness and a spot of wet retroreflectiveness.Second group of optical element (its reflection horizon is positioned at the wall back side) mainly provides wet retroreflectiveness and a small amount of dried retroreflectiveness.
Another advantage of the present invention is that optical element is disposed easily.In an example of the present invention, optical element has similar mean diameter and proportion, makes the requirement of first and second groups of optical elements thereby reduce to put into different categories in process, and reduces overstocking of optical element in storage process.Term " similar " does not also mean that the mean diameter of first and second groups of optical elements must be identical with proportion.Like this, two types optical element can be evenly distributed in the whole counter-reflective products, thereby reduces the situation that a kind of optical element part is dominant.Require different optical elements evenly to distribute because require whole goods but not only regional area can do or wet condition under reverse reflection ray.
Another aspect of the present invention requires to have the zone that a kind of optical element is dominant.For example, need optionally apply first and/or second group of optical element so that form pattern or character.Under wet condition, pattern or character provide information to the driver.If wall is colored (for example red coloration), described pattern or character will be with look with alerting drivers.
Counter-reflective products of the present invention has many useful purposes.For example, in the pavement markers purposes, can be with goods attached on the patterned substrate.In another example, can be with goods attached to forming reflective elements on the core.
Description of drawings
Further specify the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in the accompanying drawing:
Fig. 1 is the sectional view of counter-reflective products 10 of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is the top view of pavement markers 40 of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is the sectional view along the 3-3 line of Fig. 2 pavement markers;
Fig. 4 a-4c is the synoptic diagram of each step of counter-reflective products manufacture method of the present invention;
Fig. 5 is the sectional view of reflective elements 60 of the present invention.
These accompanying drawings are schematically, do not draw in proportion, only are used for explanation and non-limiting.
The working of an invention mode
Definition
In application text of the present invention, term:
" mainly provide dried retroreflectiveness " and be meant that optical element better provides 50% at least, better at least 75%, the best dried retroreflectiveness of at least 90% goods.Equally, " wet retroreflectiveness mainly is provided " is meant that optical element better provides 50% at least, better at least 75%, and the best wet retroreflectiveness of at least 90% goods.
" expose lens optics thereto " and be meant a kind of microballoon (as glass bead or Ceramic Balls), the part of its total surface area is exposed in the environmental baseline (for example atmosphere).Described exposed portions serve is gathered incident ray.Some contacts with a kind of material (for example wall or reflection horizon) in this optical element total surface area, and this part is called embedded part.
" reflective elements " is the element of core layer, and it will be discussed in more detail below.Should distinguish the difference with " optical element ", optical element is a microballoon of gathering incident light as lens.Reflective elements adopts many optical elements.
When a kind of material has 70% or higher to the light of required wavelength, better 80% or higher, best 90% or during higher transparency, then this material is " printing opacity ".
The detailed description of invention
In the accompanying drawings, identical label is represented same material.Fig. 1 is an illustrative example of the present invention, and wherein goods 10 comprise that first group of optical element 12 and 22, two groups of optical elements of second group of optical element all are partially submerged into wall 26.Described element has exposed portions serve and embedded part, often represents with 22a and 22b respectively for second group of optical element.First reflection horizon 14 of first group of optical element places on its embedded part.The first surface 26a of wall places on the embedded part of optical element 12 and 22.Second reflection horizon 24 places on the second surface 26b of wall.Adhesive phase 30 places on second reflection horizon so that be attached on the base material.Second reflection horizon 24 does not provide any extra retroreflectiveness to first group of optical element 12.During use, first group of optical element mainly provides dried retroreflectiveness, and second group of optical element mainly provides wet retroreflectiveness, when having water on goods, a kind of situation in back just takes place.
Fig. 2 is the top view that has the pavement markers 40 of many projections 42.As shown in the figure, each projection has four side 42a, 42b, 42c and 42d.Described side can be near the end face perpendicular to adhesive phase 44.The about usually 0.1-1mm of the height of adhesive phase.The below of adhesive phase is road surface or have the premix material of adhesive phase normally, and this compound substance has often and is called " substrate " (not shown).Although what provide among the figure is rectangular protrusions, can use the projection of other shape.At one preferably in the example, this projection is not an integral part of adhesive phase or substrate (if you are using).That is to say that projection is not to form when forming substrate or adhesive phase.The suitable material of adhesive phase comprises thermoplasticity and thermoset copolymer material, for example polyurethane, epoxy resin, alkyd resin, acrylic resin, sour olefin copolymer (for example ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer, Polyvinylchloride/polyvinyl acetate ester copolymer) etc.
Be preferably, between the described projection certain intervals arranged, the shade that produces on another projection with the projection that automobile headlamp is caused reduces to minimum.Can be on the projection side of selecting (as surperficial 42a and 42c) apply the goods 10 of Fig. 1 of the present invention.Pavement markers 40 are applied on the road surface usually so that expose the side of projection 42 as much as possible.
Fig. 3 is the sectional view of the projection 3-3 along the line of Fig. 2.Count projection 42 high about 1-5mm usually from the end face of adhesive phase 44.Be preferably, adhesive phase 44 has pigment (so that color to be provided) and contains many optical elements that expose lens.
The illustrative example that is applicable to the common colorant of bonding agent and/or optical element comprises, but be not limited to, titania CI77891 Pigment white 6 (DuPont, Wilmington, DE), chrome yellow CI77603 pigment yellow 34 (Cookson Pigments, Newark, NJ), the yellow CI11741 pigment yellow 74 of aryl (HoechstCelanese, Charlotte, NC), the yellow CI11740 pigment yellow of aryl 65 (Hoechst Celanese, Charlotte, NC), diarylide yellow HR CI21108 pigment yellow 83 (Hoechst Celanese, Charlotte, NC), naphthol reds CI12475 paratonere 170 (Hoechst Celanese, Charlotte, NC), IRGAZINE TM3RLTN PY110 CI pigment yellow (Ciba Specialty Chemical Corp., Tarrytown, NY), benzimidazolone H2G CI pigment Yellow 12 0 (Hoechst Celanese, Charlotte, NC) and isoindolinone CI pigment yellow 13 9 (Bayer Corp., Pittsburgh, PA).
Although do not show among Fig. 2 or Fig. 3, can on the top surface of bonding agent 44 and/or projection 42, apply antiskid particles.The illustrative example of the antiskid particles of particularly suitable comprises United States Patent (USP) 5,124,178,5,094,902,4,937,127 and 5,053,253 described antiskid particles.Antiskid particles also can embedding reflective elements as described below in or embed in the road bonding agent.In general, can when adhesive material is in soft state, randomly shed antiskid particles on adhesive material and make it and embed wherein.
Another example of the present invention is on attached to patterned substrate or is partially submerged into reflective elements in the road bonding agent.In this article, term " patterned substrate " is the substrate that has projection shown in Figure 2, and it must be the integral part of bonding agent 44 that projection shown in it does not need.Described patterned substrate also can be as United States Patent (USP) 4,998, and 555 (Hedblom) are described to be single protuberance.
Put it briefly, described reflective elements comprises:
(a) one deck optical element layer, it comprises:
(i) first group of optical element that exposes lens, it have embedded part and first reflection horizon on embedded part and
(ii) second group of optical element that exposes lens, it has embedded part;
(b) have the printing opacity wall on first and second surfaces, the embedded part of described first surface and first group and second group optical element is adjacent;
(c) be positioned at second reflection horizon on the wall second surface; With
(d) one deck sandwich layer.
The reflective elements 60 that Fig. 5 provides has sandwich layer 62.The goods 10 of Fig. 1 are attached to making adhesive phase 30 contact with sandwich layer on the sandwich layer.But, except adhesive phase and/or have adhesive phase, on core layer surface, use undercoat or articulamentum also within the scope of the present invention.As shown in Figure 5, second reflection horizon this means that near sandwich layer 62 it still need not directly to contact with sandwich layer very close to sandwich layer.
Suitable core material comprises polymeric material (thermoplasticity and thermoset copolymer material and composition thereof).Those of ordinary skill in the art can easily select the object lesson of suitable material.Core material can be selected from various thermoplastics.For example, noncrosslinking elastomer precursor (for example nitrile rubber preparation), vinyl-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyester, polyvinyl acetate, polyurethane, polyureas, acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, ethylene-acrylate/methacrylate copolymer, ethylene-acrylic acid/methacrylic acid copolymer etc. are suitable for.Core material can be made up of one or more thermoplastics.
The illustrative example that is suitable as the thermosets of sandwich layer comprises amino resins, thermoset acrylics resinoid, thermosetting methacrylic resin, vibrin, drying oil, alkyd resin, epoxy and phenolics, based on the polyurethane of isocyanates, based on polyureas of isocyanates etc.These compositions are described in detail in Organic Coatings:Science and Technology, Volume I:Film Formation, Components, and Appearance, Zeno W.Wicks, Jr., Frank N.Jones and S.Peter Pappas, John Wiley ﹠amp; Sons, Inc, New York, 1992.
The reflective elements size is high about 1.0-5.0mm (about 0.40-0.125 inch), wide about 0.50-1.0cm (about 3/16-3/8 inch) preferably at present, is about 0.50-10cm (about 3/16-4 inch).Reflective elements can have Any shape.But its shape is rectangle or square normally.
Reflective elements can be attached on flat or the patterned substrate.Term " flat substrate " is meant the substrate of no projection on the one first type surface or protuberance in this article.As mentioned above, patterned substrate has projection or whole protuberance, reflective elements better sticks on projection " vertically " (promptly roughly shown in Fig. 2 surface 42a, 42b, 42c and 42d, the roughly vertical) surface, and they provide the most effective retroreflectiveness in this position.But reflective elements can be attached on the top layer top surface of being with pattern wafers if necessary.
Can use adhesive material with reflective elements attached on the substrate.The suitable bonding material include, but are not limited to polyurethane, polyureas, epoxy resin, polyamide, polyester, and composition thereof and United States Patent (USP) 4,248,932 and 5,077,117 described materials.
Perhaps, can apply magnetosphere in the reflection horizon of reflective elements.In the presence of magnetic field, reflective elements is applied on the patterned substrate to help the reflective elements orientation subsequently.
The road bonding agent that is used for pavement marking article is well-known in the art.Suitable road adhesive material includes, but not limited to the thermoplastic (for example United States Patent (USP) 3,849,351,3,891,451,3,935,158,2,043,414,2,440,584,4,203,878,5,478,596) of wet paint, thermosets or heat.Usually, when the road adhesive material is in liquid state with reflective elements with antiskid particles is shed or apply thereon with other method.Reflective elements or antiskid particles are partially submerged in this road adhesive material when the road adhesive material is in liquid state.Solidify the road adhesive material subsequently, so that reflective elements and antiskid particles are better remained on the state that is partially submerged into the part projection.Described bonding agent can be made up of durable bicomponent system (as epoxy or polyurethane), perhaps is made up of thermoplastic polyurethane, alkyd resin, acrylic resin, polyester etc.
Goods of the present invention contain two groups of optical elements at least: first group and second group of optical element.Described optical element is the lens that expose with exposed portions serve and embedded part (being also referred to as the back side).Be preferably, optical element is a printing opacity.Available various surface conditioning agent is handled it.For example, available coating (for example silane) is handled optical element, to strengthen the viscosity between optical element and wall or the reflection horizon, helps its operation in process.Equally, can there be low viscosity material, so that easily spooling or uncoiling goods of the present invention in the exposed portions serve of optical element.
At first, first group of optical element has first reflection horizon of the whole element surface of basic covering.In this article, term " the basic covering " is meant the almost all exposing surfaces of cladding element of reflection horizon, and layer covers but small surface area (being equivalent to pin hole or big slightly) is not because the processing restriction may be reflected.Usually, the surface of the most close first group of optical element in reflection horizon is although can have thin silane coating or other surface treatment coating as mentioned above between reflection horizon and first group of optical element surface.Usually use vapor deposition to apply the reflection horizon, although can use other method.
Remove part first reflection horizon by further processing (for example etching method) from first group of optical element.Usually remove the first continuous reflection horizon part.Better there is 20-80% first reflection horizon to be removed.Better about 40-60% first reflection horizon is removed, thereby forms first reflection horizon optical element adjacent with the element embedded part.Now, the embedded part of first group of optical element has first reflection horizon.
In use, first group of optical element has the exposing surface of not being with the reflection horizon, works the lensing of gathering incident light.Because the cause of refringence between air and the first group of optical element, incident light reflects towards first reflection horizon.First reflection horizon reflexes to optical element with incident light.This incident light passes optical element and penetrates optical element with the form of retrodirective reflection light.When the tight adjacent and first group of optical element of the embedded part of first reflection horizon and first group of optical element had suitable refractive index, this optical element obviously had dried retroreflectiveness.
In an example, second group of optical element has similar physical property to first group of optical element.Described physical property includes, but are not limited to refractive index, mean diameter, shape and composition.But second group of optical element do not have and tight adjacent reflection horizon, its back side.But there is second reflection horizon in the wall back.
For having best retrodirective reflection performance, the refractive index of optical element is about 1.70-2.20 usually, better about 1.8-2.1.At one preferably in the example, first group of optical element has similar refractive index with second group of optical element, better about 1.86-2.00.But, select first group of optical element and second group of optical element or other optical element to have different refractivity also within the scope of the present invention.In another invention example, the refractive index of first group of optical element is about 1.86-2.00 so that have best dried retroreflectiveness, and the refractive index of second group of optical element is about 1.90-2.10 so that have best wet retroreflectiveness.
In general, shape is about the 50-1000 micron near the mean diameter of spherical optical element.Be preferably the about 50-500 micron of the mean diameter of optical element, preferably about 75-250 micron.First group, second group has similar mean diameter with any optical element of respectively organizing subsequently, thereby has reduced the classification of optical element in process, and reduces overstocking of element in storage process.The mean diameter of also finding one group of optical element can be bigger approximately by 50% than another diameter of organizing optical element, still need not classify in processing and storage process.Therefore respectively organize in this article between the optical element " similar mean diameter " be meant one group of optical element at most comparable another organize big by 50%.
As required, optical element can comprise amorphous phase, crystallization phase or its mixing phase.Optical element better comprises nonabradable inorganic material.Suitable optical element comprises, for example the microballoon that forms of glass (soda lime glass).Usually, the about 4.0-4.5 of the proportion of optical element.
Be described in United States Patent (USP) 3,709, the micro-crystalline ceramic optical element in 706,4,166,147,4,564,556,4,758,469 and 4,772,511 has the permanance of enhancing.Ceramic optical element is described in United States Patent (USP) 4,564 preferably, and 556,4,772,511 and 4,758,469.These optical element anti scuffings and cracked, relatively hard (Knoop hardness about 700).These ceramic optical elements comprise zirconia, aluminium oxide, silicon dioxide, titania and composition thereof.
The optical element pigmentable is with the various colors of retrodirective reflection.Manufacturing is applicable to the technical description of colored ceramic optical element of the present invention at United States Patent (USP) 4,564, in 556.The addition of colorant (as because red or orange ferric nitrate) can account for about 1-5 weight % of aggregate metal oxide.Two kinds of compounds are interacted (as TiO 2With ZrO 2Can interacting, it is yellow to produce) the generation color.The pigmentable optical element is so that the light of for example yellow, orange or other color of retrodirective reflection at night.
The aligning part that optical element is closely filled with sexangle usually embeds in the wall, to obtain best retrodirective reflection efficient.In some product purpose, be favourable to apply optical element less than closely filling ratio of sexangle.
Pavement markers of the present invention comprise wall.In general, the embedded part of wall " cup-shaped is sealed " optical element.Better has roughly the same thickness at whole goods intermediate interlayer of the present invention.Wall has two first type surfaces.The embedded part of first first type surface and optical element is adjacent.Adjacent with second first type surface is second reflection horizon.The radius-of-curvature of wall is greater than the radius-of-curvature of optical element.The initial point of the radius-of-curvature of wall roughly is positioned at the center of optical element.Wall better has such radius-of-curvature, and promptly optical element constitutes concentric hemisphere relatively, thereby forms " cup-shaped is sealed ".
As described below, wall is the successive layers with controlled thickness.With United States Patent (USP) 5,812,317 middle layer difference, wall of the present invention has limited thickness at Fig. 1 optical element 22 most of embedded parts.Require wall to have limited controlled thickness, guaranteed that under wet condition second reflection horizon is positioned at or near the focus of second group of optical element, thus the retrodirective reflection incident ray.
Can use various technology that wall is applied on the optical element, include but not limited to solution coating, the showering of curtain formula, extrude, lamination and powder coated.Be used for the usability methods that wall is processed into cup-shaped include, but are not limited to solvent evaporation, under gravity make the wall depression, under hydrokinetic effect, wall is moved or electrostatic precipitation.The curing of wall can include, but are not limited to drying, chemical reaction, casual ion key or cooling.
In general, wall is made up of polyvinyl butyral, polyurethane, polyester, acrylic compounds, acid-olefin copolymer (for example ethylene-acrylic acid, ethylene-methyl methacrylate) and the acid-olefin copolymer, Polyvinylchloride and the multipolymer thereof that neutralize with alkaline ionomer, epoxy resin, polycarbonate and composition thereof.
When selecting to be used for the polymeric system of wall, require it to have optical clarity, promptly wall is a printing opacity.The generally about 1.4-1.7 of the refractive index of wall, better about 1.4-1.6, preferably about 1.45-1.55.
In wall, can add various adjuvants, such as but not limited to stabilizing agent, colorant, UV absorbers, antioxidant, so that processing, Weather-resistant or retrodirective reflection color.
The thickness of wall is different with the size of refractive index and optical element.At one preferably in the example, the thickness of wall depends on the size of refractive index and second group of optical element.In general, for the optical element of given refractive index and size (being mean diameter), wall is thick more, and the retroreflectiveness of goods is good more under wet condition.But the thickness of wall has a upper limit for wet retroreflectiveness.Usually, wall is about 0.05-1.4 to the relative thickness of optical element radius, better about 0.1-0.9, preferably about 0.2-0.9.
For wet retroreflectiveness, for the wall of 1.5 refractive indexes, the optimum thickness of the relative optical element mean radius of wall (for the about 1.7-2.4 of refractive index) is by formula: (space layer/optical element radius)=exp (3.99 * (refractive index of optical element+7.20)) provides.For low-refraction (i.e. 1.7 refractive indexes) the relative spacing layer thickness that optical element is suitable be about ± 0.20, for high index of refraction (i.e. 2.4 refractive indexes) optical element be about ± 0.1.Believe that under wet condition water (refractive index about 1.33) covers the surface of second group of optical element, help the retrodirective reflection performance of goods of the present invention.The phase menstruation is regulated the focal length of second group of optical element, thus on second reflection horizon or near the refraction incident light.
For the wall of other refractive index, above-mentioned equation can produce some variations.In general, the wall than low-refraction needs low space layer; The wall of high index needs high space layer; Thin wall generally can make and expose the retrodirective reflection angle (angularity) that the lens goods produce enhancing.
The reflection horizon can comprise diffuse reflector or specular layer.Diffuse reflector generally includes diffuse reflection pigment.The example of the diffuse reflection pigment that is suitable for includes, but are not limited to titania, zinc paste, zinc sulphide, lithopone, zirconium silicate, zirconia, natural and synthetic barium sulphate and composition thereof.Diffuse reflection pigment places the back side (being second surface) of wall usually with polymer coating.Described polymer coating can use various technology (as blade coating, roller coat, extrude and powder coated) to apply.
Specular layer can be minute surface pigment, thin metal layer (being commonly referred to metal layer) or multilayer dielectric material.An example of the minute surface pigment that is suitable for is a pearlescent pigment.The pearlescent pigment that is suitable for includes, but are not limited to AFFLAIR TM9103 and 9119 (available from EM Industries, Inc., New York, USA), MearlinFine Pearl #139V and Bright Silver #139Z (available from The Mearl Corporation, Briarcliff Manor, New York, USA).
The reflection horizon also can comprise metallic film.These metallic films can be by precipitation (for example precipitating silver nitrate), vacuum thermal evaporation (for example resistance heated Ag, Al; The explosive metal silk; Laser evaporation etc.), (cathode) sputtering (for example glow discharge) and chemical method (for example electro-deposition or chemical vapour deposition) plating.Resistance heated aluminium is the method that preferably metallic film is plated at present on the wall.
Another kind of suitable reflection horizon comprises multilayer 1/4 wavelength layer of various dielectric materials.The lamination of many height and low refractive index film can produce very the retroreflectiveness near 100%.Can adopt thermal evaporation and chemical method to apply multilayer film.
Fig. 4 a-4c shows each step of an illustrative method of the present invention.Can earlier cup-shaped extruding (cupping) resin-coating be gone up (for example referring to United States Patent (USP) 4,505, the 4th hurdle the 63rd row of 967 (Bailey)) when preparing goods of the present invention at lining (as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), paper etc.).Suitable cup-shaped extrusion resin be included under the processing temperature than wall have more low viscosity and and wall between have low-viscosity resin (Vitel for example TM3300 resins, available from Bostik, Middleton, MA).For example can adopt scraping article to apply and force air drying, extrude or hot melt applies cup-shaped extrusion resin is placed (general thick about 0.05-0.25mm) on the lining.After the drying, but spooling comprises the cup-shaped squeeze film of lining and cup-shaped extrusion resin layer.
Wall can be applied (for example extrude, solution applies or powder coated) and on cup-shaped squeeze film, form compound.Shown in Fig. 4 a, wall 103 places on the cup-shaped extrusion resin layer 102.Described wall can comprise for example PrimacorTM 3440 (a kind of high-molecular-weight thermoplastic multipolymer of extrusion grade, it is believed that and comprise a large amount of vinyl monomers and a spot of acrylic monomers, available from Dow Chemical Co.Midland, MI, USA, melt flow index is about 10), Weather stabilising system and antioxidant.Be preferably, wall is the light penetrating copolymer of extruding in advance on the cup-shaped squeeze film of being laminated to, although wall can directly be extruded on cup-shaped extrusion film.If necessary, this compound wall (shown in Fig. 4 a, comprise lining 101, on a surface of this lining, have cup-shaped extrusion resin layer 102 and wall 103) but spooling.
At Fig. 4 b, first group of optical element 112 has first reflection horizon 114 on basic cladding element 112 whole surfaces.In one approach, with vapor deposition the reflection horizon is applied on the element 112.First group of optical element mixed with second group of optical element 122 and shed on the exposing surface of wall, wall is better softening in advance so that hold optical element.Make optical element sink to wall 103 so that the optical element diameter about 20% be positioned at wall.
At Fig. 4 c,, optical element 112 and 122 exposes about 50% of optical element diameter thereby further embedding wall.The processing wall makes it cup-shaped embedded part around optical element.As shown in the figure, first group of optical element is removed from exposed portions serve in some first reflection horizon.This first reflection horizon can for example be removed with etching method.When first reflection horizon was aluminium, suitable etching reagent was the NaOH of the about 1M of concentration.Remove cup-shaped squeeze film, apply second reflection horizon 124 at the second surface of wall.The effect in second reflection horizon is the reflection horizon as second group of optical element 122.When water covers second group of optical element, wall have enough thickness and relative second group of optical element refractive index it have suitable refractive index, incident light is focused on second reflection horizon 124 or near.If necessary, can apply adhesive phase or articulamentum on the exposing surface in second reflection horizon 124 so that on attached to base material (for example patterned substrate, core element or coarse road surface).
In another approach, wall can be applied on the optical element.Can use the multiple polymers process technology.When the mean diameter of optical element during, the polymer solution blade coating can be produced suitable cup-shaped seal wall on optical element film top approximately less than 100 microns.
For bigger optical element, powder coated can make the wall that has uniform thickness on optical element.In an example of powder coated, make polymkeric substance and grind to form about 30 microns of particle mean size.With the powder fluidisation and transfer to electrostatic gun, in spray gun, make it charged with pressurized air with corona or electrification by friction method.Subsequently powder is sprayed on the optical element that places on conductive base or the maintenance substrate electrical ground.When charged powder during near the optical element of ground connection, because electrostatic attraction makes powder adherence.Electrostatic attraction power makes powder accumulate on the three dimensional optical components with homogeneous thickness.Make the optical element of coating powders make the powder consolidation on base material subsequently by a baking oven.Also can use various fluidized bed powder paint-on techniques on optical element, to apply the uniform powder of thickness, carry out the consolidation processing of powder subsequently.Further process subsequently.
Use various colors can under wet and/or dried condition, obtain different colors in optical element layer and/or wall.
Embodiment
The following example further specifies various concrete feature of the present invention, advantage and other details.Concrete material that uses among these embodiment and consumption and other condition and details should not be considered as limitation of the scope of the invention.Except as otherwise noted, otherwise percentage is by weight.
The measurement of retroreflectiveness
With the method B of following ASTM standard E 809-94a, measure the retrodirective reflection coefficient (R of some sample with-4.0 ° of incident angles and 0.2 ° of viewing angle A), unit is bank/lux/square metre (cd/lux/m 2).The photometer that is used for this measurement can be referring to the defensive patent announcement T987 of the U.S., 003.Sample is immersed under the situation that the distance that makes in the water between the most of exposed portions serve of the water surface and optical element is about 5mm measures " wet R A".
Some sample of following mensuration is with milli bank/lux/square metre be the retrodirective reflection luminance factor (R of unit L).R LMeasure and adopt approximate vehicle to be positioned at sample 30m distance far away.In the darkroom, pavement markers sample to be measured is placed on the desk.Sample top is can be with the piping system of the uniform rate rainmaking of about 10cm/hr.
With the RS-50 bulb (as light source) that has the RS-2 power supply (all available from Gamma Scientific Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) irradiation sample.The height of regulating bulb is to obtain about 88.8 ° of incident angles and to be placed on from the about 5m of sample place.Use is available from International Light, Inc., and Newburyport, MA, the IL 1700 types experiment radiometer of USA is measured the illumination on the sample.
One the 2009 automatic telephotometer of type (available from Gamma Scientific, Inc.) is placed apart from the about 5m of sample place, near the top of being close to bulb.The height of regulating telephotometer is to obtain about 1.05 ° viewing angle.Use telephotometer to measure the brightness of sample.Adopt conversion factor to make brightness multiplication, obtain with bank/square metre (cd/m 2) be the brightness of unit.With brightness remove illumination calculate R LValue.Under dry and simulated rainfall conditions, measure sample.
Embodiment 1-5
The essentially identical method of usefulness as described below makes 5 different samples, with the influence of research different optical element group to the retroreflectiveness of goods of the present invention.
Can adopt method (for example United States Patent (USP) 4,772,511 embodiment 1 described method) through improved various manufacturing 1.91 ceramic optical elements of the present invention.In this embodiment, will about 0.75ml red fuming nitric acid (RFNA) when stirring fast add in about 90g aqueous colloidal silicon dioxide gel it is carried out acidifying.The cataloid of acidifying is added in the quick zirconyl acetate solution that stirs of 320g.Will about 52gNiacet formyl acetic acid (formoacetate) aluminium (33.4% calcination solid) mix with 300ml deionization water and be heated to 80 ℃ of dissolvings.After the cooling solution is mixed with above-mentioned zirconyl acetate-silicon dioxide blended liquid phase.With potpourri rotary evaporation to the 35% calcination solid that forms.The optical element precursor solution that concentrates is dropped in heat (88-90 ℃) peanut oil of stirring.Stirring this oil descends and gelling described precursor drop size.
Proceed to stir so that the drop of most of gellings is suspended in the oil.After about 1 hour, stop the microballoon that agitation and filtration is separated gelling.In about 78 ℃ baking oven,, fire subsequently dry about 5 hours of the gelling microballoon collected.The microballoon of drying is placed quartz disk, in 10 hours, furnace temperature is slowly risen to about 900 ℃ and in air, it is fired,, in stove, cool off microballoon 900 ℃ of insulations 1 hour.All samples are all initially fired in the batch-type furnace that fire door is opened a little.The mol ratio of optical element component is ZrO 2: Al 2O 3: SiO 2It is 3.00: 1.00: 0.81.On average, the diameter of optical element is about 165 microns.
Get the ceramic microsphere of above-mentioned 1.91 refractive indexes of 4800g and deposit the whole surface that the first aluminium reflection horizon makes it basic cladding element, make first group of optical element.United States Patent (USP) 4,618, the 525 described essentially identical method deposition of aluminum reflection horizon of use and Chamberlain etc. are included in rolling optical element in the vacuum chamber, simultaneously with about 3.2 kilowatts power (cathode) sputtering aluminum vapor, and about 360 minutes of sputter.The negative electrode of sputter is the water-cooled rectangular target of about 12.7 * 20.3cm size.Use the direct current planar magnetron method.Argon sputter gas pressure is about 0.53Pa, and background pressure is about 1.6 * 10 -3Pa.The about 80nm of first aluminium reflection bed thickness.
With the various compositions shown in the table 1 first group of optical element mixed mutually with second group of optical element.Second group of optical element uses the ceramic component of above-mentioned 1.91 refractive indexes, but above be not with the reflection horizon.
Ethylene-acrylic acid (EAA) wall of extruding one deck 0.089mm (0.0035 inch) on the polyester lining of 0.061mm (0.0024 inch) makes compound.The first surface of wall is exposed to atmosphere, and second surface contacts with the polyester lining.Wall is to be 10 Primacor with conventional extrusion molding melt index (MI) TM(available from Dow Chemical Co.Midland, MI USA) makes 3440 EAA.When the optical element that preparation is partially submerged into, go up the preheating compound at heating plate (design temperature is about 204 ℃ (400), and the polyester one side contacts with heating plate).This preheating step softens wall and is clamminess.
With hand the potpourri of various optical elements is shed on wall.Use the hand roller that optical element is pressed into wall.The compound that will have optical element is incubated about 30 seconds on heating plate, make optical element further sink to wall.Take off sample from heating plate, collect excessive optical element and remove it.Remove the polyester lining subsequently.Sample being placed on heating plate made the area of heating surface contact with optical element in about 5 minutes again.The effect of this heating is to make the cup-shaped optical element of sealing of wall.Take off sample from heating plate, in the water-bath of temperature about 24 ℃ (75), cool off it.If there be first group of optical element in the sample, then this group optical element has first reflection horizon that covers its whole surface.About semidiameter of these optical elements is exposed in the atmosphere, and second half embeds wall.
Sample is soaked etching in 10 seconds remove the reflection horizon of exposing on first group of optical element in the 1M sodium hydroxide solution.Use tap water rinse sample to remove NaOH.
On the second surface of wall, use the electron beam vacuum coating equipment about 8 * 10 -4The plating second aluminium reflection horizon under the evaporation rate of Pa and about 1.8-2.4nm/s.The about 90nm of the second reflection bed thickness.The vacuum coating equipment that uses as CHA Industries Mark 50 types (available from CHA Industries, Freemont, CA, USA).Measure the retrodirective reflection coefficient (R of each sample under dry and wet condition in-4.0 incident angles and 0.2 ° of viewing angle A), the result lists in table 1 with the error of each time mensuration.The filling of observing optical element is not best, means that optical element do not fill with hexagonal array.
Table 1: retrodirective reflection value
Embodiment First group of content Second group of content The average R that does A Average wet R A
1 0％ 100％ 2.6±0.1 95±20
2 25％ 75％ 20±4 55±13
3 50％ 50％ 36±1 50±11
4 75％ 25％ 55±1 36±4
5 100％ 0％ 87±6 0.40±0.04
Embodiment 6
The following pavement markers that make.Use otch scraping article coating machine on the thick first polyester lining of about 0.05mm (0.002 inch), to apply vibrin (Vitel TM3301, available from Bostik Co., Middleton, MA, USA).This vibrin is as cup-shaped extrusion resin.The otch scraping article is set in the about 0.25mm in gap (0.010 inch).The lining that applies is delivered to a series of baking ovens that are set in about 38-93 ℃ (100-200) with dry resin, obtain first composite membrane.The dried thickness of the first composite membrane vibrin is about 0.09mm (0.0025 inch).
On the second polyester lining of thick about 0.05mm (0.002 inch), extrude the wall of thick about 0.97mm (0.038 inch).Described wall is Primacor TM3440 (available from Dow Chemical Co., Midland, MI, USA).
Wall is laminated on first composite membrane, makes wall and Vitel TMVibrin contacts.Remove the second polyester lining that is used for wall, second compound that obtains comprises: the first polyester lining, vibrin (Vitel TM3301) and wall (Primacor TM3440).
Make second compound by being heated to first steel rider of temperature about 125 ℃ (257), the polyester lining is directly contacted with steel roller faces.The wall that second compound is exposed contacts with the optical element bed, comprises first group of optical element of about 50 weight % and second group of optical element of 50 weight % as this optical element as described in the embodiment 3.The 3rd compound that this step obtains comprises second compound that is partially submerged into optical element in the wall.About 20% of optical element diameter embeds wall.
Make the 3rd compound by the about 0.6m of diameter (2 feet), be heated to second steel rider of temperature about 138 ℃ (280), the polyester lining of winning is directly contacted with second steel roller faces.The 3rd compound moves with the web speed of about 3m/min.Move to about half of the second steel rider circumference at the 3rd compound, use a rubber rollers that optical element is further embedded compound.Has a roll gap between the rubber rollers and second steel rider.Optical element directly contacts with rubber rollers, and the first polyester lining directly contacts with second steel rider.About 60% of optical element diameter embeds wall.
Make the 3rd compound by the 1M sodium hydrate aqueous solution subsequently, about 30 seconds of time is to remove first group of aluminium reflection horizon on the optical element.With tap water rinse the 3rd compound.
Remove first polyester lining and the Vitel from the 3rd compound TM3301 vibrin.Use the second aluminium reflection horizon of electron beam vacuum coating equipment thick about 90nm of plating on the wall exposing surface.
The contact adhesive (PSA) that will have lining is pressed on the second aluminium reflection horizon layer by layer, makes PSA directly contact with aluminium.Remove the PSA lining, sample is laminated to is about 10cm, wide about 0.64cm, the Lexan of high about 3.0mm TMForm the retrodirective reflection bar on (polymethylmethacrylate) sheet.These retrodirective reflection bars are laminated to are about 1.5m, wide about 10cm, on the aluminium sheet of high about 1.5mm.The about 8.9cm in interval is to reduce shadow effects between each bar between each bar.The sample retroreflectiveness of under drying condition, measuring (retrodirective reflection luminance factor R L) be 16000mcd/m 2/ lux is 3200mcd/m under the simulated rainfall conditions 2/ lux.
Embodiment 6A (comparative example)
With a slice 380I series 3M TMStamark TMHigh performance tape is laminated on the aluminium sheet as embodiment 6.Record with retrodirective reflection luminance factor (R L) the retrodirective reflection performance of sample of expression is 880mcd/m doing under the condition 2/ lux is 95mcd/m under condition is rained in simulation 2/ lux.
Under the situation that lacks not specifically described any element of this document or parts, also can implement the present invention well.

Claims (25)

1. a counter-reflective products (10), it comprises:
(a) one deck optical element, it comprises:
(i) first group is exposed lens optics thereto (12), and it has embedded part and first reflection horizon (14) that is positioned on the described embedded part;
(ii) second group is exposed lens optics thereto (22), and it has embedded part (22b);
(b) have the printing opacity wall (26) on first and second surfaces, described first surface (26a) is adjacent with the embedded part of described first and second groups of optical elements; With
(c) be positioned at second reflection horizon (24) on the described wall second surface.
2. goods as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that described first group is exposed lens optics thereto (12) and expose lens optics thereto (22) and have the identical average properties that is selected from mean diameter, refractive index, proportion and combination thereof with second group.
3. goods as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that described first group is exposed lens optics thereto (12) and second group of refractive index of exposing lens optics thereto (22) is 1.86-2.0.
4. goods as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that described first group of refractive index of exposing lens optics thereto (12) is 1.86-2.0, and second group of refractive index of exposing lens optics thereto (22) is 1.90-2.1.
5. goods as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that described wall (26) cup-shaped seals described first group and expose lens optics thereto (12) and second group and expose lens optics thereto (22).
6. goods as claimed in claim 1, the refractive index that it is characterized in that described wall (26) is 1.4-1.7.
7. goods as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that described first group is exposed lens optics thereto (12) and second group to expose lens optics thereto (22) be ceramic optical element.
8. goods as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that described first group is exposed lens optics thereto (12) and be mainly used in retrodirective reflection under drying condition, and described second group is exposed lens optics thereto (22) and be mainly used in retrodirective reflection under wet condition.
9. goods as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that described first group is exposed lens optics thereto (12) and expose lens optics thereto (22) and distribute equably with second group.
10. goods as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that described first reflection horizon (14) and second reflection horizon (24) are the metal levels that is selected from aluminium and silver.
11. goods as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that described second reflection horizon (24) is selected from diffuse reflector and specular layer.
12. goods as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that exposing lens optics thereto (12), second group at first group exposes in lens optics thereto (22) and the wall (26) and have at least one deck to have the printing opacity colorant.
13. goods as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that having uniform and limited thickness at the described walls of the most of embedded parts of optical element (26).
14. goods as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that the material of described wall (26) is selected from polyvinyl butyral, polyurethane, polyester, acrylic compounds, acid-olefin copolymer, Polyvinylchloride and multipolymer thereof, epoxy resin, polycarbonate and composition thereof.
15. goods as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that selectivity places described optical element to form pattern or character.
16. goods as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that described goods reverse reflection first color under drying condition, reverse reflection second color under wet condition.
17. goods as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that covering second group when exposing lens optics thereto (22) when water, wall (26) has enough thickness and the relative second group suitable refractive index of exposing the refractive index of lens optics thereto (22), thus the light of energy retrodirective reflection incident.
18. goods as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that described wall (26) is a curved surface.
19. pavement markers (40), it comprises:
(a) adhesive phase (44);
(b) place the projection (42) of the many non-integrals on the adhesive phase (44); With
(c) place counter-reflective products as claimed in claim 1 on the described projection.
20. pavement markers as claimed in claim 19, it also is included in the substrate of adhesive phase (44) below.
21. pavement markers as claimed in claim 19 is characterized in that described adhesive phase (44) also comprises pigment and the lens optics thereto of exposing that is partially submerged in the bonding agent of being with pigment.
22. a reflective elements (60), it comprises:
(a) sandwich layer (62);
(b) place the described counter-reflective products of claim 1 on the sandwich layer, make sandwich layer near second reflection horizon (24).
23. pavement markers, it comprises:
(a) adhesive phase;
(b) place the described reflective elements of claim 18 on the adhesive phase.
24. the preparation method of pavement markers, it comprises the following steps:
(a) provide first group of optical element (112), it has first reflection horizon (114) on its whole surface of basic covering;
(b) provide second group of optical element (122);
(c) provide printing opacity wall (103), it has first surface and second surface;
(d) first group of optical element (112) and second group of optical element (122) are applied on the first surface of wall (103);
(e) make first group of optical element (112) and second group of optical element (122) be partially submerged into wall (103), make optical element have exposed portions serve and embedded part;
(f) remove part first reflection horizon (114) from the exposed portions serve of first group of optical element (112); With
(g) on the wall second surface, apply second reflection horizon (124).
25. method as claimed in claim 24, it is characterized in that described wall (103) has limited controlled thickness, thereby under wet condition, second reflection horizon (124) are positioned at or near the focus of second group of optical element (122), thus light that can retrodirective reflection incident.
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CN1379862A (en) 2002-11-13
KR20020041823A (en) 2002-06-03
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US6966660B1 (en) 2005-11-22
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EP1221061A1 (en) 2002-07-10
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CA2388295A1 (en) 2001-04-26
KR100614059B1 (en) 2006-08-23

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